U.S. patent number 5,247,711 [Application Number 07/699,220] was granted by the patent office on 1993-09-28 for bidet device.
Invention is credited to Okwang Kwon.
United States Patent |
5,247,711 |
Kwon |
September 28, 1993 |
Bidet device
Abstract
A bidet device comprising a stationary pipe provided with a
water inlet pipe and three nozzles arranged to be spaced from one
another. The bidet device also comprises a rotatable actuating pipe
adapted to change water ejecting directions of the nozzle. The
actuating pipe has a magnetic rotation preventing member which
cooperates with the other magnetic rotation preventing member
provided at the stationary pipe, so as to maintain the nozzle at
their changed positions. A valve and a valve seat are also provided
for controlling water supply to two nozzles, irrespective of the
remaining nozzle.
Inventors: |
Kwon; Okwang (Hanam-City,
Kyonggi-do, KR) |
Family
ID: |
19298997 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/699,220 |
Filed: |
May 13, 1991 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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May 14, 1990 [KR] |
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90-6813 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
4/420.4;
4/447 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03D
9/08 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E03D
9/08 (20060101); E03D 009/08 (); A47K 003/20 () |
Field of
Search: |
;4/420.4,420.1-420.5,443-448,420.2,420.3,445,446 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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0037308 |
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Nov 1930 |
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FR |
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2142054 |
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Jan 1985 |
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GB |
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Primary Examiner: Cuchlinski, Jr.; William A.
Assistant Examiner: Beres; John L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: McGlew and Tuttle
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A bidet device comprising:
a stationary pipe fixedly mounted to the seat bottom surface of a
toilet bowl and provided with a water inlet pipe connected to a
water supply source and communicated with interior of said
stationary pipe;
an actuating pipe axially extending through the fixed pipe to have
ends protruded respectively beyond both ends of the fixed pipe and
having a port adapted to communicate the interior of said actuating
pipe with said water inlet pipe, one of said protruded ends having
a lever adapted to rotate said actuating pipe with respect to the
fixed pipe;
a rotary pipe member axially extending through the actuating pipe
and having a blind end protruded beyond said one of said protruded
ends of the actuating pipe and a port adapted to communicate the
interior of said rotary pipe member with the water inlet pipe, said
blind end having a knob adapted to rotate the rotary pipe member so
as to selectively communicate said port of the rotary pipe member
with the water inlet pipe;
a first L-shaped elbow connected at one end thereof to the other
end of the actuating pipe and provided at the corner thereof with a
first nozzle having a tip directed to the outside of said
corner;
an arc-shaped pipe connected at one end thereof to the other end of
said first elbow and provided at the mediate portion thereof with a
second nozzle having a tip directed to an inside of said arc-shaped
pipe;
a second L-shaped elbow connected at one end thereof to the other
end of said arc-shaped pipe and provided at the corner thereof with
a third nozzle having a tip directed to the outside of said corner
and an inside of said arc-shaped pipe, said second elbow being
rotatably supported at the other end thereof to the seat bottom
surface of the toilet bowl so as to rotate together with said first
elbow and arc-shaped pipe according to the rotation of the
actuating pipe, thereby causing said nozzles to change their water
ejecting directions;
valve means for controlling a water supply to said first and third
nozzles, irrespective of said second nozzle; and
means for maintaining the actuating pipe at its rotated
position.
2. A bidet device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said valve
means comprises a valve seat pipe disposed in said first elbow and
connected at one end thereof to said first nozzle, said valve seat
pipe having at the inner surface a plurality of grooves axially
extending from radially spaced positions on said inner surface
respectively and concentrating on the center of said one end of the
valve seat pipe, which center is the connection position to the
first nozzle, an arc-shaped inner pipe extending through said
arc-shaped pipe and having one end connected to the valve seat pipe
to be communicated with said grooves and other end connected to
said third nozzle, said valve means axially extending from the
outside of said blind end of the rotary pipe member through the
rotary pipe member and the actuating pipe to the interior of the
first elbow and having at one end a push button and at the other
end a packing having an outer surface closely in contact with the
inner surface of the valve seat pipe, said valve means being
axially movable between a position in which said packing prevents
the water supply to the grooves and said inner pipe and a position
in which the packing allows the water supply to the grooves and
said inner pipe, a compression spring biasing the valve means such
that packing is maintained and its water supply preventing
position.
3. A bidet device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means
for maintaining the actuating pipe at its rotated position
comprises a pair of annular magnetic rotation preventing members,
one provided at one of said ends of said fixed pipe and other
provided at the mediate portion of the actuating pipe, said members
having faced surfaces provided with engaging teeth respectively and
being in contact with each other, in virtue of their magnetic
force.
4. A bidet device in accordance with claim 1, wherein all tips of
said nozzles are directed so that waterstreams ejected therefrom
can be concentrated on a desired position.
5. A bidet device attachable to a toilet seat, the device
comprising:
a fixed pipe fixedly mounted on the toilet seat, said fixed pipe
having duct means for supplying fluid;
actuating pipe means rotatably connected to said fixed pipe and for
receiving fluid from said fixed pipe;
a first elbow connected to an end of said actuating pipe means,
said end being substantially opposite from said fixed pipe, said
first elbow receiving fluid from said actuating pipe means;
a first nozzle means positioned at a corner area of said first
elbow and for ejecting fluid from said first elbow;
an arc-shaped pipe connected to an end of said first elbow
substantially opposite from said actuating pipe means, said
arc-shaped pipe receiving fluid from said first elbow;
a second nozzle means positioned at a substantially center portion
of said arc-shaped pipe and for ejecting fluid from said arc-shaped
pipe;
a second elbow connected to an end of said arc-shaped pipe
substantially opposite from said first elbow, said second elbow
receiving fluid from said arc-shaped pipe, said second elbow having
an end substantially opposite from said arc-shaped pipe, and said
end being rotatably mounted on the toilet seat;
third nozzle means positioned at a corner area of said second elbow
and for ejecting fluid from said second elbow; and
valve means for controlling fluid supply to said first and third
nozzle means independent of said second nozzle means.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a sanitary device for
washing the lower parts of the human body, and more particularly to
a bidet device which provides the access of a free ranging nozzle
to direct the waterstream to any desired human body location.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Sanitary cleansing device for washing the anal and genital regions
of the human body is an accepted part of ordinary personal hygiene
in many parts of the world.
In a conventional washing device of this kind, commonly known as
bidet, a nozzle for ejecting water is fixedly disposed at the front
inside the toilet bowl in such a way that the water ejected from
the nozzle is caused to bathe the female genitals. Also, the water
may be added with an optimum quantity of hygienic cleansing
materials as occasion demands.
Additionally, there has been proposed a bidet device which is
capable of bathing the female genitals and also washing the anal
area after defecation.
However, the conventional bidet devices of these kinds have several
drawbacks as described hereinafter.
First, in the bidet device with a nozzle fixedly disposed at the
front inside the toilet bowl, the bidet device can only provide an
usually fixed direction and angle of the ejection, thereby causing
the user to move her body in order to adjust the position of the
bathing. Hence, the other parts of her body which are not the
object of the washing may be subject to being splashed with the
water. Furthermore, the bidet device of this style is only for
female genitals so that it is not possible to wash the anal area
after defecation.
Also, because the bidet device of this style is fixedly disposed in
the toilet bowl of the earthenware type, there are difficulties and
expenses in manufacture thereof, thereby causing the manufacturer
and the consumer to be imposed with a burden. Additionally, it is
very difficult to amend the bidet device of this style in case of
breakdown or trouble, thus it may be needed to install a new toilet
bowl with bidet device causing an additional installing cost which
buyers thereof may not be willing to undertake.
Second, in the bidet device with a nozzle disposed separately or
connected to a separate water pipe in order to be positioned at the
center of the toilet bowl, and a lever movable frontwards and
rearwards for controlling the movement of the nozzle in order to
bath the female genitals and also wash the anal area after
defecation, the direction of the water ejection can not be
controlled frontwards and rearwards, but leftward and rightward,
thereby causing the efficient washing corresponding to the bent
torso of a person not to be obtained. Furthermore, the water
ejected from the nozzle of the bidet device of this style is always
ejected perpendicularly so that the ejection angle can not
controlled. Hence, the water may be concentrated at a certain area
of the human body.
Also, in the bidet device of the second style, the feculence may be
dropped from the anal area onto the nozzle during the washing
resulting in the pollution of the water ejected from the tip. The
feculence dropped onto the nozzle, furthermore, give rise a
difficult and troublesome work to remove them.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide a
bidet device which is detachably attached to the toilet bowl and
provides a free control of the nozzles to freely change their water
ejecting directions in order to alternatively direct the
waterstream to desired human body locations, namely, the female
genitals and the anal area.
In accordance with the present invention, the above-mentioned
object can be accomplished by providing a bidet device comprising:
a stationary pipe fixedly mounted to the seat bottom surface of a
toilet bowl and provided with a water inlet pipe connected to a
water supply source and communicated with interior of said
stationary pipe; an actuating pipe axially extending through the
fixed pipe to have ends protruded respectively beyond both ends of
the fixed pipe and having a port adapted to communicate interior of
said actuating pipe with said water inlet pipe, one of said
protruded ends having a lever adapted to rotate said actuating pipe
with respect to the fixed pipe; a rotary pipe member axially
extending through the actuating pipe and having a blind end
protruded beyond said one end of the actuating pipe and a port
adapted to communicate interior of said rotary pipe member with the
water inlet pipe, said blind end having a knob adapted to rotate
the rotary pipe member so as to selectively communicate said port
of the rotary pipe member with the water inlet pipe; a first
L-shaped elbow connected at one end thereof to the other end of the
actuating pipe and provided at the corner thereof with a first
nozzle having a tip directed to the outside; an arc-shaped pipe
connected at one end thereof to the other end of said elbow and
provided at the mediate portion thereof a second nozzle having a
tip directed to the outside; a second L-shaped elbow connected at
one end thereof to the other end of said arc-shaped pipe and
provided at the corner thereof with a third nozzle having a tip
directed to the outside, said second elbow being rotatably
supported at the other end thereof to the seat bottom surface of
the toilet bowl so as to rotate together with said first elbow and
arc-shaped pipe according to the rotation of the actuating pipe,
thereby causing said nozzle to change their water ejecting
directions; valve means for controlling water supply to said first
and third nozzles, irrespective of said second nozzle; and means
for maintaining the actuating pipe at its rotated position.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention
are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and
forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of
the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects
attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying
drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of
the invention are illustrated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toilet bowl with an embodiment of
a bidet device in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded and partially broken perspective view of the
bidet device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a L-shaped elbow of the
bidet device of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line A--A' of FIG.
3;
FIGS. 5 are illustrations of the bidet device of FIG. 2 after being
assembled, in which;
FIG. 5A is a longitudinal sectional view showing the bidet
device;
FIG. 5A(1) is an enlarged view of the portion of FIG. 5A which is
encircled;
FIG. 5B is a longitudinal sectional view showing a water flowing
when a handle is shifted to open the flowing system;
FIG. 5C is a longitudinal sectional view showing a water flowing
when a button is pressed in the state of FIG. 5B;
FIG. 6 is an exploded and partially broken perspective view of
other L-shaped elbow of the bidet device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the operation of the
bidet device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 8 is a partially longitudinal sectional view of another
embodiment of a bidet device in accordance with the present
invention; and
FIG. 9 is a partially broken perspective view illustrating the
Bidet Device of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Turning now to FIGS. 1 to 5, a bidet device in accordance with this
invention comprises an actuating pipe 2 which is rotatably mounted
on the bottom surface of a seat 1 of a toilet bowl 25 with a
well-known construction by means of a support bracket 24 the
actuating pipe 2 has a magnetic rotation preventing member 3 formed
around the outer surface at a mediate portion thereof and is
provided with radial teeth formed on its end surface. Inner threads
5 and an inner protruded annular stop 4 are respectively formed on
an inside surface of an end portion 2" and an inner mediate surface
of the actuating pipe 2. Also, there is provided a stationary pipe
9 which is secured under the seat 1 by means of a securing member,
and has a magnetic rotation preventing member 7 formed around an
end thereof and adapted for engaging with the rotation preventing
member 3. The stationary pipe 9 is connected to a water inlet pipe
8 through which water is supplied from a water reservoir (not
shown) thereto. As shown in FIGS. 5, the actuating pipe 2 is
provided with a port 6 formed about the other end portion 2'
thereof in order to receive water. A lever 10 is mounted to an
upper portion of end portions 2'. A rotary pipe member 13 is
inserted into the end, portion 21 is provided with the port 6 and
the lever 10: rotary pipe member 13 includes a rectangular port 12
for receiving water upon alinement with the port 6. A circular
engaging flange 11" is formed on an end in order to engage with an
annular engaging protrusion 5' formed on the inner surface of the
actuating pipe 2 nearly after the annular stop 4. Also, a knob 11
having a depression 11' formed as depressed at a center thereof is
integrally formed at the other end of the rotary pipe member 13.
The rotary pipe member 13 can be thus simply rotated inside the
actuating pipe 2 by the rotation of the knob 11 thereof, thereby
causing ports 6 and 12 to be selectively aligned with each
other.
The actuating pipe 2 is connected with a L-shaped elbow 14 at the
one end 2" by engaging the inner threads 5 thereof with an outer
threaded end of the elbow 14. The elbow 14 connects with an other
L-shaped elbow 14' by way of an arc-shaped outer pipe 23. There is
provided a nozzle 20" mounted at the mediate portion of the
arc-shaped outer pipe 23. Enclosed in an end of the L-shaped elbow
14 is a valve seat pipe 15 provided with a plurality of
distribution grooves 17 formed on inside surface thereof and a
nozzle 20 connected to an end thereof. The distribution grooves 17
are axially formed and spaced apart from one another in order to
concentrate on a center opening of the one end of the valve seat
pipe 15, which opening communicates with the nozzle 20. Thus, the
grooves 17 communicate with the nozzle 20. Also, the valve seat
pipe 15 connects with an arc-shaped connection pipe 16 which is
enclosed in the arc-shaped outer pipe 23 and connects to a third
nozzle 20' mounted at the other L-shaped elbow 14'.
There is provided a valve which extends from the valve seat pipe 15
to the depression 11' of the knob 11 and comprises a packing formed
from a cork packing 19, a push button 22 and a valve stem 21 for
connecting the packing 19 and the push button 22. The valve is
biased by a compression coil spring 18 positioned between the one
inner end of the valve seat pipe 15 and the packing 19. The valve
can, therefore, control the water flowing in order to selectively
eject water from the nozzles 20, 20' and 20".
The operation of the above-mentioned bidet device according to this
invention will be described as follows.
In operation, the knob 11 is rotated so that the port 12 of the
rotary pipe member 13 is aligned with the port 6 of the actuating
pipe 2 in order to communicate therebetween. Thereafter, the lever
10 is rotated in order to rotate the L-shaped elbows 14 and 14' and
the arc-shaped outer pipe 23, so that the elbows 14 and 14' and the
pipe 23 can be located at a desired position. Thus, the nozzles 20,
20' and 20" are also located at a desired position of the washing.
Also, the magnetic rotation preventing member 3 fixedly contacts
with the magnetic rotation preventing member 7 by the magnetic and
frictional power therebetween, thereby causing the ejecting
position of the nozzles 20, 20' and 20" to be maintained. At this
time, if the cork packing 19 is located at the position shown in
FIG. 5A, the water received by the port 6 communicating with the
port 12 will be ejected through the nozzle 20". Therefore, when the
arc-shaped outer pipe 23 is located in the front position, the
nozzle 20" will eject the water to the female genitals.
On the other hand, upon pushing the push button 22 of the valve,
the valve stem 21 moves frontwards to shift the cork packing 19
against the coil spring 18 in order to open the distribution
grooves 17 of the valve seat pipe 15 and the arc-shaped inner pipe
16. As a result, the water flows by way of the distribution grooves
17 to eject through the nozzle 20 and also flows by way of the
inner pipe 16 in order to eject through the nozzle 20'. At this
time, the water is also ejected through the nozzle 20". Hence, in
this case, the bidet device ejects the water in three directions as
shown in FIG. 7, thereby causing the feculence to be easily removed
and to be prevented from being spread out.
Additionally, the actuating pipe 2 may be constructed as shown in
FIG. 8. In this case, the knob 11 is integrally formed with the
actuating pipe 2, so that the lever 10 and the rotary pipe member
13 are not present. Also the alignment of the ports 6 and 12 and
the rotation of the arc-shaped outer pipe 23 are carried out by the
knob 11.
As above-mentioned, the present invention provides a bidet device
capable of ejecting the water in three directions in order to
efficiently bathe the female genitals and also wash the anal area
after defecation. The bidet device provides advantages that it can
be installed to a conventional toilet bowl and easily amended in
case of trouble. Furthermore, the bidet device includes three
nozzles of which each ejection angle can be easily controlled,
thereby causing the human bent trunk to be efficiently washed.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to
preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is
not limited to the details thereof. Many substitutions and
modifications, a few of which have been noted in the foregoing
detailed description, may be made without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *